Horticulture. 



314 



3. For roadsides generally select kinds with a spreading top and an upright 

 clean trunk for at least 15 feet. These are also suited for parks and pasture land, 

 though in this case it is as well to select trees which combine the purpose of 

 ornament with that of shade. Fruit trees in many cases may afford profit as well 

 as shade, but their use in public places has obvious drawbacks. 



4. Some time previous to planting make holes 3 feet deep and the same in 

 widtb, from 15 to 20 feet apart, and, if possible, about 15 feet from the road. 

 Water the plants thoroughly, support them individually with stout sticks if 

 necessary, and shade with cadjan or other durable leaves. 



5. Protection from cattle is usually indispensable ; it may be troublesome 

 and expensive to provide this at first, but it is economy in the end. The ground 

 round the plants should be kept free of weeds, and forked on the surface occa- 

 sionally. Always look for vacancies on the approach of wet weather, and 

 supply these without delay. 



6. When pruning be careful to cut the branches with a clean cut surface 

 close to the stem ; never leave a stump when cutting a branch, as this will rot and 

 most probably bring disease to the heart of the tree, causing the latter to assume 

 a distorted and stunted shape, if not premature death. 



7. Trees suitable for the wet low-country :— Inga-Saman or Rain-tree, 

 Pehimbiya, Gal-mora, Balsam-tree, Del, Timbiri, Peltophorum, Pterocarpus or 

 "Gammalu." 



8. Trees suitable for dry districts :— Kohomba, Tamarind, Timbiri, Suriya, 

 Mara-illupai, Inga-saman, Mahogani. 



Gardening Notes for the Hill Districts. 



By J. K. Nock. 



The routine work for the month of May will be found in the Calendar. 



Flower Garden.— The fine specimens of the two undermentioned perennials 

 exhibited at the Nuwara Eliya Agri-Horticultural Show, and numerous queries 

 since as to their cultivation, have prompted the following remarks :— 



Antirrhinum, "Snapdragon," is a hardy perennial but generally is treated 

 as an annual. There are three classes— dwarf, medium, and tall— the latter being 

 the class of the exhibit which elicited so much attention. They will grow almost 

 anywhere, but a well-manured light dry soil in a sunny situation suits them best. 

 Seed sown in September will produce plants to flower the following February, i.e., 

 in about six months' time. The best plan is to sow the seed in pans, prick out into 

 sheds or boxes, and plant out when large enough, in dull weather. If it is 

 desirous to increase a special colour or variety cuttings should be taken and inserted 

 in light sandy soil. 



Streptocarpus.— This is a tender perennial from South Africa and known as 

 the "Cape Primi'ose." The hybrids are very showy and produce a succession of 

 gloxinia-like flowers throughout the greater part of the year. They are easily 

 grown and take five to six months to come into flower from the time of sowing the 

 seed which should be done in pans, pricking off the seedlings into pots as they 

 become large enough. There seems to be a general idea that a glass-house is neces- 

 sary to grow them in, which is wrong. They certainly do best under cover (very 

 ornamental as a verandah plant) in a cool place but are flowered at Hakgala in the 

 open. A suitable compost is rich loam and leaf-mould with manure and sand added. 

 They may be increased by d?visions. 



